ursamajour
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? DC
Basically, my grandfather was the sole beneficiary in the notarized will of a woman he had lived with for more than 30 years. Upon her death, a great-nephew -or other represented himself as the heir to the estate by lying to the DC titling authorities about his relationship to the decedant and sold a home from the estate. My grandfather found out about this when the purchaser showed up to attempt to force vacation of the property. My question is this: it has long been held in common law that a thief may not convey good title to stolen property, even to a bona-fide purchaser. Could this principle be used in arguing this case? My thought on this is that the person who misrepresented himself to the government in order to dispose of the home stole the home, making an unwitting accomplice of the DC gov't. Anyone have ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Basically, my grandfather was the sole beneficiary in the notarized will of a woman he had lived with for more than 30 years. Upon her death, a great-nephew -or other represented himself as the heir to the estate by lying to the DC titling authorities about his relationship to the decedant and sold a home from the estate. My grandfather found out about this when the purchaser showed up to attempt to force vacation of the property. My question is this: it has long been held in common law that a thief may not convey good title to stolen property, even to a bona-fide purchaser. Could this principle be used in arguing this case? My thought on this is that the person who misrepresented himself to the government in order to dispose of the home stole the home, making an unwitting accomplice of the DC gov't. Anyone have ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance!